A study published in mid-March claimed that parts of California’s San Andreas fault line may be accelerating in preparation for larger tremors. Just like other semi-active faults around the world.
A highly active section of the San Andreas fault called Parkfield is believed to be behaving very differently than when it last ruptured in 2004, according to a study. published Published in the journal “Frontiers in Earth Science”. Parkfield is said to split approximately once every 22 years, and there are often some tell-tale signs before it splits.
These signs include the opening and closing of cracks beneath the surface. But Luca Maranini, the study’s lead author, said the Parkfield earthquake appears to be so different from the 2004 quake that there is no way to know where the next quake will strike or how strong it will be.
Literally everyone with some knowledge of geology just groaned at what Maranini said?
Earthquake Rock Eastern Seaboard | @DailyCaller https://t.co/XTXJeanRv4
— Kay Smythe (@KaySmythe) April 5, 2024
One of the first things 11-year-olds are taught in geography class in the UK is that it is scientifically impossible to predict when an earthquake will occur. Geologists can use proxy physical geological data and evidence from past earthquakes to predict the approximate location of an earthquake, but there is no way to know for sure when an earthquake will occur. There’s also no telling how big it will get.
Maranini appears to be doing his best job yet as director of research at Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. He’s basically just getting paid to transfer the knowledge that even an 11-year-old can get in geography class to science, which (in my opinion) seems like a pretty cool job. . (Related: Insane video emerges after Taiwan earthquake)
Researchers are clinging to the Parkfield Fault, trying to find signs that will help them scientifically “predict” earthquakes for the first time in history.
Honestly, if they go through with it, I’m going to hang my hat and issue a massive apology. I sincerely hope that happens. By doing so, we can prevent millions of deaths from future earthquake-related natural disasters.
